Bassic Colors No. 16 – Blue Boy blue

[bassduke49]

Blue Boy was RIC's Color of the Year for 2004, and was also available before that for a year or so for overseas outlets. In 2004, Blue Boy shared the COY throne with another year for Montezuma Brown.

Blue Boy is a very light blue, appearing almost white in some photos. The subtle powder blue on some examples turns to a light greenish blue which some owners like. The color may have been chosen to emulate the special guitars and bass made for the Jim Reeves band around 1960 (see photo). So, let's see your little Boy Blues!

[sloop_john_b]

[rickinroma]

http://www.gospel.bo.it/albums/userpics ... lueboy.jpg

[libratune]

4003 BBoy Front

4003 BBoy Back

[cheyenne]

True blue,, never yellowed at all. Now resides with Fatcat.

[woodyng]

whew,i would like the bass, amp, AND sportcoat jim reeve's bass player is sportin'..........STYLIN' !! that light blue looks real nice with the backpainted gold pg.....

[johnallg]

Ron, I love those inlays! Looks like Scott's (Don's actually) has them too. Like my 2004 4003.

[loves4003]

My 2005 Blueboy with a toaster in the neck position.

[tjoepatjoep]

Why wasn't it called Baby Boy Blue? Sounds cool!

[berth]

My 2005 Blueboy with a toaster in the neck position.

This bass doesn't look bad at all in pictures, but it does look way better in real I can attest.

[12stringbassist]

[loves4003]

Is there any way of knowing how many COY basses and guitars were made?

[bassduke49]

Unfortunately, RIC doesn't give out that information. They probably could come up with a number, but would have to dig to get it, and they don't have to, really. I do know that Sea Green was the COY with the least orders, and Amber Fireglo had the most. That's from John Hall's recollections, but no numbers were given.

[Sartana]

Does anyone know during what years, originally, Rickenbacker use the Blue Boy color?

[bassduke49]

If you're talking "way back," it was not a standard color for Rickenbacker. The Rick instruments used by Jim Reeves and the Blue Boys were painted this pale blue, but it is not clear that any came that way from the factory. According to the BB's bass player, James Kirkland, he recalls his "brown burst" Rick 4000 bass was repainted in pale blue "in Nashville" and it's possible the other instruments were also refinished.

The "Blue Boy" Color of the Year was 2004, alongside the second year of Montezuma Brown (COY 2003-04). Obviously the color and name were a nod to Jim Reeves' band circa 1960 or so. Blue Boy was applied a year or so earlier for some special instruments exported to Japan, then re-established as the COY for '04.